Where we are we get "dirt dauber" wasps. They build nests in the darnedest places. To prevent them entering the boat we use the HOT SHOT No Pest Strip. It does a good job of keeping them away when the boat is closed up.
Little tip?????
- Thread starter Ken Cross
- Start date
1. Big tip-keep the Admiral happy at all costs
2. I too keep some lines on the dock and have some horizontal fenders. Tip is if you want to pick up, say a permanent spring line, line caddy makes a nice line holder.
3. A Spray Bottle of home defense is great at keeping spiders away. I use it on the Bimini/dodger, dock box and even the finger pier.
2. I too keep some lines on the dock and have some horizontal fenders. Tip is if you want to pick up, say a permanent spring line, line caddy makes a nice line holder.
3. A Spray Bottle of home defense is great at keeping spiders away. I use it on the Bimini/dodger, dock box and even the finger pier.
We carry bags of ice in the refrigerator. The ice is never loose and free grabbing, even after the classic "drop on dock" shock method. We always keep a rubber headed mallet on board.
One cheap one broke at the head, leaving just the head and a nice handle.
The rubber head is now our hand "ice breaker"
It is easily stored in the shelf aside the refrigerator.
Our bow macerator through hull seacock, is just out of comfortable reach.
I use the wasted handle, by cutting a notch in the broken end. The notch width/depth fits the seacock handle. It is the valve opener by pushing the seacock handle open.
Part 2...
I drilled a hole in the center of the wasted handle and tied a cord to it and the hole in the seacock handle. Now I can pull the seacock closed.
Jim..
PS: Patent pending.
One cheap one broke at the head, leaving just the head and a nice handle.
The rubber head is now our hand "ice breaker"
It is easily stored in the shelf aside the refrigerator.Our bow macerator through hull seacock, is just out of comfortable reach.
I use the wasted handle, by cutting a notch in the broken end. The notch width/depth fits the seacock handle. It is the valve opener by pushing the seacock handle open.
Part 2...
I drilled a hole in the center of the wasted handle and tied a cord to it and the hole in the seacock handle. Now I can pull the seacock closed.
Jim..
PS: Patent pending.
I haven't tried it yet, but I was thinking of putting a bicycle flag pole in the corner of the dock and hang a spring line on it so we could grab it while pulling into the slip. I was thinking it might also help me to know where the corner of the dock is.
Please let me know if you think this would work.
Our current procedure is to get alongside the dock and step off onto a small 2 step then secure the boat. Prevailing wind is from the stern or quartering from the stern and toward the dock. It seems to work well, but on occasion I could see how someone could miss the step if they were trying to hurry.
Ken
Please let me know if you think this would work.
Our current procedure is to get alongside the dock and step off onto a small 2 step then secure the boat. Prevailing wind is from the stern or quartering from the stern and toward the dock. It seems to work well, but on occasion I could see how someone could miss the step if they were trying to hurry.
Ken
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Drill a hole in your engine's raw water seacock handle and put a keychain ring through it. Put your ignition key on a snap hook. Store engine key on closed seacock when away from the boat. It will reinforce opening and closing that seacock...
For remote electric start outboards:
Several years ago I used a control binnacle from an outboard power boat to run my electric-starting Johnson outboard. The binnacle I chose included trim control.
So while trim was not available on the motor, electric starting was, so I employed TRIM UP to energize the starter solenoid. I used TRIM DOWN to short the ignition circuit.
This made it super-easy to quickly start and kill the motor without turning around and bending down over the transom.
Several years ago I used a control binnacle from an outboard power boat to run my electric-starting Johnson outboard. The binnacle I chose included trim control.
So while trim was not available on the motor, electric starting was, so I employed TRIM UP to energize the starter solenoid. I used TRIM DOWN to short the ignition circuit.
This made it super-easy to quickly start and kill the motor without turning around and bending down over the transom.
Ah, but you are in a lake. I'm on the coast, and often go away for 4-5 days or a week.. Same pillow, different beds
I tried one of those cone filter holders, and I found it drips too slowly for me. I tried a French Press like I used at home, but it was too much of a mess to clean up. Then I learned about the Aero Press, which pops out a little cake of wet grounds. One paper towel wipes up the plunger, and it's ready for the next brew. I like it so much, I've been using it at home exclusively. That reminds me, I should probably buy a second one to put back on the boat!
You just reminded me.... I always get a case of water bottles from Walmart and pre-freeze them before a weekend on the boat. They are my ice and I can pull one out on a hot day and drink it as it melts.
rgranger, have you had any problem with the flimsy plastic bottles splitting open upon freezing?
Love coffee in the morning so tried Starbucks instant after years of Folgers and other instant brands. Starbucks Pikes instant is the best instant coffee I have ever tasted so now this is a must to have on board.
Ah! Good point. I loosen the cap and squeeze out the last little bit of head gas (air) and then tighten the cap before I put it in the freezer. That way, when the ice expands, it has room. I've been doing this for years and unless my crew drinks them all, the ice will usually last over a weekend. If we are planning a 4-day weekend, I'll usually freeze one or two gallons jugs... that will usually make it through a longer weekend. Another trick I've used is to pack two smaller coolers instead of one larger one. And I put a piece of tape on one cooler labeled Day 3 & 4.... and tell everyone not to open it until then. You have to think more about how you pack but it will allow you to have a cold beer on the last night of your trip. Two smaller coolers also makes lugging them around easier.
Lastly, I have found igloo coolers to not work so well. I have been using the coleman xtreme with good results.
Aero press.. I may be to buy one of those..
I have a percolating coffee pot and like these (easy to find filters, fairly easy to clean) but you have to keep the burner flame on for a long time after the water boils as this is how the percolater "water pump" works. What Im doing now is when the water boils, I just poor a cup from the pot into a separate cup then poor it back over the coffee grinds in the percolater. I do this twice and the coffee comes out rich and not burnt since I no longer have to boil for a long time just to get the flow. Saves a lot of gas (Butane in my case). Its an improvement but still a little hassle..I would like to find something better, been thinking about those press types..
I have a percolating coffee pot and like these (easy to find filters, fairly easy to clean) but you have to keep the burner flame on for a long time after the water boils as this is how the percolater "water pump" works. What Im doing now is when the water boils, I just poor a cup from the pot into a separate cup then poor it back over the coffee grinds in the percolater. I do this twice and the coffee comes out rich and not burnt since I no longer have to boil for a long time just to get the flow. Saves a lot of gas (Butane in my case). Its an improvement but still a little hassle..I would like to find something better, been thinking about those press types..
We do the same using Coke's brand ice tea and then save the round quart containers filled 90% full of our favorite ice tea. The pre-frozen round plastic bottles lay on their side for better cooling and eventually drinking undiluted ice tea at the helm.
I found this unique cooling scarf, in fashionable multicolors to "evaporative cool" the Admiral on a mid summer sail.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B010T9RJ7I?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00
The 40" size cools the key areas of face and neck and never stiffens. We eventually purchased 6 for cooling guests too. I dumped the terry cloth ones when consumer's report said a standard hand towel did the same as the $20 cooling towel.
We have a companion way lock to secure our boat from pilfering in berth. The first one fell overboard from being left aside the entry. We then stowed it below not to be found easily.
Now we put a small strip of velcro on the base of the lock and the mating side stuck to the deck, aside the entry.
Jim...
My dock lines stay home... They are set up to the length needed at each cleat. We side tie to the wall between neighbors. Piece of cake, swing in dead slow, hook a spring line and done. Fenders also hung horizontally along the wall. No tide to worry about here, just occasional storm surge.
Spare lines and fenders remain on the boat for use when rafting or at other ports.
Years ago someone gave my wife a food saver vacuum packer. I will take towels, shirts, pants ect fresh out of the dryer (hot) and vacuum pack them. I keep an emergency change of clothes, and towels tucked in a locker for years. When you open the package it still smells like the dryer. Great after a surprise downpour, or an unplanned but necessary swim.
I have a 6 year old and a 12 year old, for them i strictly enforce two rules.
1.) Out of the cabin and the boat is moving all children have to wear a life jacket.
2.) Absolutely, positively, no eating or drinking in the cabin. The first year we had the boat, the kids ripped open a bag of Cheetos and a bunch got into the bilge. Days later the smell was ungodly, we had several of these incidents and more than one spilled juice box on new cushions. Never again!!! (we have a small boat, Pearson 26 OD)
I leave my dock lines on the dock. I keep a separate set of mooring lines in small zippered canvas bags i bought from harbor freight. I also have a separate set of storm lines I keep at the house. They are pre marked so i know where to tie bowlines.
When the weather man calls for a hurricane or a tropical storm, other people are trying to get their lines figured out, my boat is already tied up.
I have a 6 year old and a 12 year old, for them i strictly enforce two rules.
1.) Out of the cabin and the boat is moving all children have to wear a life jacket.
2.) Absolutely, positively, no eating or drinking in the cabin. The first year we had the boat, the kids ripped open a bag of Cheetos and a bunch got into the bilge. Days later the smell was ungodly, we had several of these incidents and more than one spilled juice box on new cushions. Never again!!! (we have a small boat, Pearson 26 OD)
I leave my dock lines on the dock. I keep a separate set of mooring lines in small zippered canvas bags i bought from harbor freight. I also have a separate set of storm lines I keep at the house. They are pre marked so i know where to tie bowlines.
When the weather man calls for a hurricane or a tropical storm, other people are trying to get their lines figured out, my boat is already tied up.
Plate Rattles, Put a ring of silicone around the bottom edges then when you stack them you wont hear a sound. Coffee filters work as a pretty good insulator as well. Pot holders go in the bottom pot when stacked for storage.
For other squeaks rattles, particularly on cabinet doors I have found that toilet shims are great to have around. Great for all sorts of things. After I tiled our kitchen the refrigerator would want to slide forward when the door handle is pulled to open. One of these little shims in front of the door and the refrigerators stays in place.
For other squeaks rattles, particularly on cabinet doors I have found that toilet shims are great to have around. Great for all sorts of things. After I tiled our kitchen the refrigerator would want to slide forward when the door handle is pulled to open. One of these little shims in front of the door and the refrigerators stays in place.
The former owner of my boat always had the boat tied up to a mooring buoyi , He was told that he should have a mast light on, and a bow and stern light. what he did is just bought some cheap solar garden lights and tied it to the top of the mast, Thought that was brilliant.